The Baltimore Sun reports that the order came on Thursday. In his decision, jurist Martin Welch wrote that the new trial was based in part on the fact that Syed's lawyer "rendered ineffective assistance" to her client by failing "to cross-examine the state's expert regarding the reliability of cell tower location evidence."

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Syed, whose story was told through dramatic interviews and careful reporting by Serial host Sarah Koenig, was serving life after his conviction for killing his one-time girlfriend Hae Min Lee.

Today's ruling was the outcome from a hearing held in early 2016, when Syed's new attorneys insisted the first trial had been marred by sketchy cell phone records and ignored testimony from a witness who could have provided Syed with an alibi.